Kenny Pickett shows fight in losing 1st start with Steelers

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A competitor at his core, Kenny Pickett could not have enjoyed that his first NFL start was his team’s worst defeat in 33 years. But even a 35-point loss couldn’t completely sour this day for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new quarterback.

“Listen, I mean, it is my first start, man,” Pickett said from a cramped room in the bowels of the Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium. “I have been dreaming about this day since, you know, I first picked up a football. So I was really excited to play, and I was gonna give everything I had till that last snap.”

Pickett did exactly that Sunday, literally showing fight until his last snap. Pickett gave Shaq Lawson a two-handed shove and remained engaged with him while jawing after Pickett’s final pass of the game fell incomplete. Pickett was assessed a 15-yard personal foul penalty for the incident, which he said was the result of Lawson diving at his lower legs after Pickett released a pass on fourth-and-14 from the Bills’ 22 yard line.

“In my opinion, I felt like he went after my knee after I threw it,” Pickett said. “And that’s it. Tempers flare, you know? I don’t care. I’m going to keep playing to the last play of the game. That was it.”

Kenny Pickett on how he performed in his first NFL start pic.twitter.com/Devvr8HQg2

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 9, 2022

If the buzzword from teammates in describing Pickett’s NFL debut coming into a game against the New York Jets at halftime the week prior was “spark” — as in, Pickett provided one — a one-word description of what he brought to the Steelers in his first start might just be “fight.”

Despite the lopsided score, Pickett in the second half completed 21 of 32 passes for 206 yards. But his “fight” (skirmish) with Lawson wasn’t the only time Pickett was in the middle of a brouhaha Sunday. Pickett also was hit by former Pitt teammate Damar Hamlin during a slide. Steelers offensive linemen James Daniels and Kevin Dotson received personal fouls for the ensuing melee.

Related:

• Madden Monday: After Steelers' 'embarrassing' loss in Buffalo, there's no doubt they're 'going to go into the bye 1-7'
• Airing of Grievances: Blame for every aspect of Steelers as they get 'smashed' in Buffalo
• Steelers vs. Bills: What they're saying in Buffalo after rout

The pair of incidents underscored the type of moxie Pickett quickly has become known for. Perhaps the signature moment of his debut game against the Jets on Oct. 2 was when Pickett popped up after delivering a perfectly placed pass to Pat Freiermuth that gained 18 yards despite being hit hard on the play by Quinnen Williams. Pickett smiled widely while saying something to Williams.

Sunday’s result (38-3 loss) and his final stat line (34 for 52, 327 yards, one interception) aside, Pickett’s palpable effect of energy and competitiveness on his teammates again seemed apparent.

“The way he approached the huddle and approached the game, even when it was out of hand, I thought he did a really good job of just being composed, keeping us together,” Daniels said. “Of course, it’s not the result we wanted, but I thought he did a really good job of handling the environment and staying composed and handling himself pretty well.”

Even as a first-round pick and 2021 Heisman Trophy finalist, Pickett’s assignment in his first start was, as his coach put it, “a tough spot.”

On the road. Against the odds-on Super Bowl favorite. The head of an offense that struggled to score four touchdowns in 3½ games before he took over for Mitch Trubisky. And thrown into a game his team was trailing 7-0 before he took the field.

“There was a lot of stuff that I can’t control,” Pickett said, “so I wanted to go out there and do my job and make sure I was playing a really high level in order to give us the best chance to win. That was the only thing I was focused on.”

More on the Steelers loss to the Bills:

• Bills throttle Steelers in Kenny Pickett's 1st start
• Steelers' 38-3 loss to Bills marks most lopsided defeat in Mike Tomlin era, worst since 1989
• Steelers lose 4 starters to injury during blowout loss to Bills
• Steelers unhappy no penalty was called on Damar Hamlin hit to QB Kenny Pickett

Coach Mike Tomlin’s analysis of his new franchise quarterback’s starting debut was succinct: “I thought he was highly competitive.”

Pickett did throw an interception, and he lamented the offense’s deficiencies in the red zone (six drives inside the Buffalo 30 netted three points). But on whole, considering the circumstances, it probably is fair to say Pickett expressed an overall satisfaction his first NFL start.

“I felt comfortable, knew where to go with the football, the game wasn’t moving too fast for me, I was seeing things, guys were doing what they were supposed to be doing,” Pickett said. “We just weren’t consistent throughout.

“I’ve got to take a lot of ownership of this (loss). I’m the quarterback of the team. They drafted me in the first round for a reason … (and) I wanted to be the guy. So there’s a lot of things that come with that … The road doesn’t get any easier from here, so it’s gotta fixed — and fixed quickly.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.